Why are we performing this study?

Because we know how quickly lung cancer can grow, we should be able to annually screen people who have a high risk of lung cancer. And this should be done over a period of 20-25 years. But this is demanding for the people themselves, as well as the healthcare system. We believe that, after the first CT scan, we will be able to effectively assess whether it is possible to wait slightly longer until the next scan. For example, 2 years instead of 1 year. 

The population screening study is focusing specifically on people whose first CT scan showed no indications of lung cancer. For approximately 9 in 10 people, no indications of lung cancer a found during the first CT scan. We would like to know whether it is equally safe to invite this group of people for a CT scan every 2 years instead of every year. This will greatly reduce the number of examinations, and thus also the disadvantages experienced by the people themselves.

The''4-IN-THE-LUNG-RUN'' study will be carried out in various countries, namely the Netherlands, Germany, England, France, Italy and Spain. Experts in the field of lung cancer screening are also working on this study. 

The institutions in question can be found below. 

The study is being funded by the European Research Commission. 

The Minister of Public Health, Well-being and Sport asked the Health Council to investigate whether the study is safe and whether careful consideration has been given to every aspect. The Health Council was positive about the scientific quality of the study as well as the harm-benefits ratio for participants. The (outgoing) Minister of Public Health, Well-being and Sport then issued a licence on 24 June 2021 to perform the 4-IN-THE-LUNG-RUN study.

Once all CT scans have been carried out, we will ask the Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation to inform all participants that have lung cancer about the stage and type of cancer. To do so, we need you to provide written approval on the informed consent. You will not be able to take part in the study if you do not want to provide consent for this.

The stages of lung cancer that are found in the two study groups will be compared. In this case, we would like to know whether it is equally safe to invite one of the 2 groups (study group 2) for a CT scan every 2 years instead of every year (study group 1). If there are no stage-related differences in the groups (which is positive), we will be able to increase the period of time between the two CT scans in people where no abnormalities were encountered during the first CT scan.

The CT scan will show the area around the lungs. Besides lung cancer, the CT scan will also show the degree of artery calcification in the arteries around the heart: this is referred to as ’the calcium score’. The calcium score is an indicator for the risk of cardiovascular disease. We are also able to examine measurements that offer an insight into (chronic) respiratory diseases: “the respiratory lung volume”. The use of these two measurements is something rather new. That is why we will measure and examine these values, but not share them with you or your GP. We first need to conduct more research before we know enough about how these measurements can be used.

The CT scan will show the area around the lungs. Besides lung cancer, the CT scan will also show the degree of artery calcification in the arteries around the heart: this is referred to as ’the calcium score’. The calcium score is an indicator for the risk of cardiovascular disease. We are also able to examine measurements that offer an insight into (chronic) respiratory diseases: “the respiratory lung volume”. The use of these two measurements is something rather new. That is why we will measure and examine these values, but not share them with you or your GP. We first need to conduct more research before we know enough about how these measurements can be used.

An exception will be made for an elevated calcium score because this may require further treatment. Your GP will be informed if you have an elevated calcium score.